Brain artery narrowing is a slow traffic jam inside the pipes that carry blood to the brain. Over years, sticky plaque makes the opening smaller, so the brain gets less oxygen than it needs. The signs are quiet at first, then grow louder as the gap shrinks.

The first clue is a short, temporary blackout called a mini-stroke. One side of the face droops for five minutes, an arm goes weak, or words come out scrambled—then everything snaps back. These brief spells are warning flares, not harmless hiccups.

Repeat headaches follow. People call them “tight-band” pain that starts at the back of the head and creeps forward like a helmet. The ache often wakes you at 3 a.m. or hits after bending to tie shoes.

Vision blinks. A driver may notice the left lane of the highway fades for seconds, like someone dimming the lights. Others see a gray curtain sliding across one eye, then lifting clear.

Balance slips quietly. You find yourself hugging the railing on stairs you used to run down, or turning your whole body to look left instead of just your head. The world isn’t spinning; the brain’s map is just a little fuzzy.

Memory and word-finding stall. You walk to the pantry and stare, knowing you wanted “that round thing” but unable to say “cereal bowl.” These gaps last seconds, but family starts finishing your sentences.

Night noise inside the head can appear. Lying flat, you hear a whoosh-whoosh in rhythm with your heartbeat, as if a stereo is playing underwater. Raising the pillow two inches may quiet it.